Engine-starter.



G. U. THOMAS.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLIUA'LmN Num Amm?, 1014.

L, l 18,59% Patented Nov. .24., 1914.

V 3 vwo/111:0@

GH. TH @MAS f "fly 4 @Hoff/11M,

35 y to and more particularly pointed out in GEORGE HARRISON THOMAS, OFMINERAL RIDGE, OHIO.

ENGINE-STARTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.1

Application filed April 27, 1914. Serial No. 834,857.

T0 alt 1 0/mm. it may concern:

Be 1t known that l, GEORGE HARRISON THOMAS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, rc-

siding at Mineral Ridge, in the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine-Starters, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in engine startersand more particularly to a foot'starting mechanism for automobileengines' or the like and it has special relation to an improved startingmechanism which is designed to be operated by the foot and which isespecially applicable in its adaptability of operation to p automobileengines and analogous uses,

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a simpleand improved starting mechanism for automobile engines A, which can beconveniently and effectively operated by the driver or operator uponentering the vehicle and which will be posi- .tive and safe andelficient in its operation.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a device ofthe above character which will possess advantages in points ofefficiency and durability, is inexpensive to manufacture and, at thesame time, is simple in construction and operation.

Vith the above and other objects in view,

the invention consists in the novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred thespecification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, Figure 1is a rear elevation of an automobile engine illustrating the applicationof my improved starting device, parts thereof being broken away andillustrated in cross section. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional viewthrough the starting mechanism. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional Viewtaken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is an elevation of the brakecollar.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 indicates the chassis of avehicle, upon which the engine 2 is mounted and is provided with theusual fly wheel 3 and the Secured to the o uter ends of the rods 10,`

are the crank arms 12, the outer ends of which are disposed withinsuitable slots 13 formed within the circular plate 14 which is mountedupon the shaft 4 on the outer side of the gear wheel 7, said plate beingsecurely held in position by means of a collar l5 which is mounted uponthe shaft and may be fixed thereto in any suitable manner. Suspendedfrom one side of the forward end of lthe chassis, is a bracket 1G to thelower end of which is pivotally connected an operating lever 17. Formedupon the upper face of the lever 17, is an angular bracket 18, thevertical portion of which is slightly curved and provided upon its outerface with a plurality of teeth 19 which are adapted to engage with thetoothed gear 7 to rotate the same upon the downward movement of theouter end of the lever 17. The free end of the lever 17 extendsoutwardly at one side of the vehicle and is preferably disposed directlyabove the running board, as illustrated in Fig. 1, so that the operatorupon entering the vehicle may step upon the foot piece 20 and press theouter end of the 4lever downwardly to rotate the gear 7.

Extending downwardly toward the engine, from the body of the vehicle, isa support-ing member 21, to which is secured a plate 22, the outer endof which is bent upon itself to form a channel in which is pivotallymounted the inner end of a lever 23, said lever having an'outwardlyprojecting ear 24 formed upon its inner end and connected thereto, isone end of a brake band 25, said brake band passing around the plate 14and having its other end secured to the lever 23, by means of thetransverse pin 26. It will be understood that the weight of the lever 23will be suflicient to normally maintain the band 25 into frictionalengagement with the periphery of t-he plate 14 and in view of the factthat the gear 7 and the plate 14 are connected through the medium of theangular" rocking movement will be imparted to the rods upon rotarymovement of the gear' wheel 7 as to engage the pawls 11 with the teeth 6and rotate theiiy wheel 3, in order to start the engine.

' One portion of the bracket 18 is connected to the bracket 1G, throughthe medium of a coil spring 27, whereby after the [ly wheel has beenrotated and the outer end of the lever 17 released, said lever will bereturned to its normal or operative position.

Fromthe above description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, it will be readily seen that l. have provided a simple anddurable starting mechanism for internal combustion engines of variouscharacters and particularly that type which is used upon motor vehicles.

The operation of my improved starting mechanism, will be apparent asfollows The operator will first prime\the engine then by stepping uponthe foot treadle 20, upon entering the vehicle, the lever 17 will'bepushed downwardly, rotating the gear 7 which, upon its rotary movement,will move the plate 141 to an extent of actuating the arms 12 which, inturn, will engage the pawls 11 with the teeth 6 and rotate the fly wheel3 which is fixed 'to the main shaft 4L of the engine. It will beapparent should the engine back fire, the rotary movement of the plate14 will be retarded by means of the binding action of the brake band,thus allowing the gear 7 to rotate backward which in turn will rock thepawls 11 out of engagement with the teeth 6 of the wheel 3. It will beunderstood that the brake band 25 will engage the periphery of the plate14 suf- .liciently so that this plate will be rotated to a certainextent upon the vrotary movement of the gear 7, so as to rock the arms12 and engage the pawls 11 with the teeth 6;

It will be apparent from the abovethat l have provided a simple anddurable device of the character described, whereby an automobile enginemay be quickly and readily started by the operator upon entering thevehicle. 1t will also be apparent that my improved starting device isvextremely simple in construction and can be readily applied. to variouswell known makes of motor vehicles. The device itself is one which issimple and durable in construction and can be manufactured and placedupon the market at-a comparatively low cost.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, itwill be obvious that various changes in the details of construction andin the proportions may be resorted to for successively carrying myinvention into practice, without departing from the scope of theappended claims or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim is 1. A device of theclass described includand engaging the pawls with the teeth in thecollar to rotate said shaft in one direction.

2. -A device of the class described in'cludmg a drive shaft, a ily wheelmounted thereon, and a collar formed on the fly wheel having teethformed upon the interior thereof, a gear mounted upon said shaft,rocking pawls carried by said gear, crank arms connected with saidpawls, a circular plate loosely mounted on the shaft and having openingstherein to receive one end of each of the crank arms, a friction brakeband embracing the plate and means for imparting rotary movement to saidgear, whereby rocking movement will be imparted to the pawls throughtheir connection with the plate to engage the same with the teeth uponthe interior of the collar and rotate the drive wheel in one direction.

3. A device of the class described including a drive shaft, a fly wheelmounted thereon, and a collar formed on the fly wheel having teethformed upon the interior thereof, a gear mounted upon said shaft,rocking pawls carried by said gear, crank arms connected with saidpawls, a circular plate mounted on the shaft and having transverseopenings therein, a pivoted actuated lever having a toothed bracketadapted to engage with the 'gear wheel whereby upon the downwardmovement of one end of the lever, said gear will be rotated in onedirection, a friction brake band embracing the plate, the outer ends ofthe cranks extending through the openings in the circular plate wherebyto impart a slight rotary movement to the same, and rock the pawls toengage the same with the teeth upon the interior of the collar androtate said shaft.

4. A device of the class described including a drive shaft, a fly wheelmounted thereon, a collar formed on the fly wheel having teeth formed'upon the interior thereof, a gear mounted upon the shaft, a circularplate also mounted on the shaft, and means carried by the gear havingconnection with the circular plate and adapted for engagement with theteeth upon the interior of the collar, to rotate the Hy wheel in onedirection, and means for rotating the ear.

5. A device of the class describe including a drive shaft, a fly wheelmounted thereon, a collar formed on the fly Wheel having teeth formedupon the interior thereof, a gear mounted on the shaft, a circular platealso mounted on the shaft, means carried by the gear having connectionwith the circular plate and adapted for engagement with the teeth uponthe interior of the co1- lar to rotate the fly Wheel in one direction, asupporting bracket mounted on the chassis of a vehicle, a leverpivotally connected to the bracket, an angular bracket formed on thelever and provlded upon its outer face

